Side orders
Ichiban 50 Queen Street, Glasgow, 204 4200. For a city which embraces so many cuisines from around the globe, Glasgow is long overdue an outlet for genuine Japanese food. Inspired by the noodle cafes, or ramen shops, of Hong Kong and Japan, experienced restaurateurs Peter Tsim and Raymond Tsant have opened lchiban, a striking noodle cafe with a substantial menu which fuses traditional Japanese noodle dishes with the latest taste sensations from Hong Kong. .
London eateries like Wagamama have led the way in Britain; now lchiban hopes to give Glaswegians a taste for sake and tempura. Three of the four chefs have come directly from Hong Kong where they trained in Japanese restaurants.
'I've heard the most important things to a Japanese man are his ramen noodles and miso soup,’ says manageress Sue Mon Yip. She describes the lchiban experience as 'smoke-free, healthy eating in a new generation Japanese cafe, rather than the old-style kimono image.’
The cafe boasts the cool minimalism of classic Japanese decor, but its overall look will be unmistakable to a younger clientele used to the style bar enVironment. Wooden tables and benches are arranged in rows and the Oriental flav0ur is restrained, with the sole embellishments being a bonsai tree and a few pieces of Japanese crockery set into windows in the calming lime-coloured walls.
The backbone of the menu is the three types of noodle - the fine ramen and soba noodles and the thicker udon, which are served as soup-based dishes with either seafood, salmon, chicken, beef chilli or chicken chilli. Panfried noodles, noodles in a variety of sauces and rice dishes are also available for £S—E6.
The traditional Japanese side orders of miso soup and king prawn tempura are already favourites With the clientele, as are the yakitori side dishes — skewers of vegetables, chicken or beef, chargrilled with a soy sauce made by the chefs. All of which can be washed down with green leaf tea or hot or cold sake, the potent Japanese rice wine, for those who really fancy turning Japanese. (Fiona Shepherd)
& drinking
director
eating
The Basement 10a-12a Broughton Street. 557 0097.
Restaurant gualrty food at pub-grub prices, served 'til 10pm in lively, colourful surroundings
The Bookstop Café 4 TeViot Place 225 5298.
New bookshop/cafe Promises book- browsing, plus, extensive coffee menu, smoothies and deli snacks.
Common Grounds 2/3 North Bank Street.
2261416. '4‘» 5. _ ) ) .. AN’ American style coffcc ' A‘fl‘)
house on The Mound Food served all day. Live mu3ic most evenings
Cyberia Internet Cafe,
88 Hanover Street
220 4403.
Cyberia offers a friendly,
relaxed atmOSphere and 10 multimedia PCs, With fast internet access.
Dial restaurant/cafe 44/46 George IV Bridge. 225 7179.
'Wears its style With a capital With food to match.’ -- Conrad Wilson, l‘vlodern Scottish Cursrne.
drA
Filmhouse 88 Lothian Road
229 5932. a,
Relaxed, FILMHOUSE atmospheric cafe bar, .serVing great value snacks, salads, specials and brilliant cappuccinos v- 10am till late.
.f‘o‘f’
Helios Fountain 7 Grassmarket (With shop). 229 7884.
Mon-Sat lOam-6pm,
Sun 10am-4pm ‘5 "mum Excellent vegetarian
coffee house servmg really tasty food.
Kaf‘fe Politik
146/148 Marchmont Road 446 9873,
Espresso bar. Juice bar Food specials all day 'Worth the trrp.’
10am— 10pm, 7 days
Politik
Kalinka Russian vodka bar & cafe
65 Henderson Street, Leith
Tel: 467 7053.
Special vodkas, homemade food a traditional music Sunday Lunch With live "folk" from Countess Domoxhirova
Ndebele
57 Home Street. 221 1141
A cafe and sandWich deli with an impresswe range of culinary delights from Southern Afric, a
Pancho Villas 240 Canongate
557 4416MeXican-born owner Mayra Nunez says ’If you're gorng to eat tvlexrcan, then don't be bland ' Lunch until 5pm, dinner until 11pm
lg}:
Passepartout
2‘1 Dec‘i"“,..a:.’tri Stockbrict'te 33 Cosmopolitan cuisine dinner menus from £12 50 -t7c>ok:ng
.1 1:73 IJ_E_.‘A..,-,.i P .'..
..i‘ci‘i chi... St’i l‘i'lt't‘
advrsablce, light lunches, coffees, beers and wines
Pigs ‘11 West Nicoison Street 667 6676
Come along and enjoy this
small bistro with a big menu, featuring dishes from all
Pigs
corners of the world
Remember to bring your own bottle to enjoy with your meal
Smoke Stack
53-55 Broughton Street
556 6032
Much more than burgers and steaks at this stylish but friendly new chargrill restaurant
Sdl1(l\‘.'ltll(‘5
Back Alley Restaurant
8 Ruthven Lane
334 7165
World wide cuisine, weekend breakfasts, Happy Hour, lunch menu, evening specials and Glasgos'i's best burgers'
Balbir's
51. West Regent Street
331 1980 Not big, not designer, not sexy, Just brilliant. High quality Indian cuisine at affordable prices
Brel bar: restaurant 39 Ashton Lane
342 4966
Belgian beers
(draft Leffe and Hoegaarden), fine wines, rustic food, cool music, relaxed
atmosphere
Gaffe Latte 50 Virginia Street,C ‘7‘) Glasgow \ c 0141553 2553. L
Pix/as, Pastas,Sa|ads, Sandwu’hes, Snacks. Licensed until midnight, seven days Relaxed, friendly atmosphere
Gallery of Modern Art Cafe Queen Street 221 7484
Arts Restaurant of the Year Thursday, Friday and Saturdays from 6 30pm
Last orders 10pm No smoking
FOOD & DRINK
Grassroots 20 \tmaianas Re id
353 3278
Scare-free food, organic groc t‘lli‘X excellent bread, fine cheeses, herhs and
spices, wholesome foods yum, yum
Le Petit Pain
239 Byres Road
337 1118 tphone/fax1 Coffees, gualitv
ewj
and pastries to go or” to stay Outsicle catering
Market Bar 24 Candleriggs 564 3005
Relaxed atmosphere at this stylish new
bar/kitchen, servrng modern international cuisine 'till 8pm
Mojo
158a Bath Street 0 331 2257
Much acclaimed stylish bar a unrgue blend of modern brasserie cooking in an intimate setting
Papingo
104 Bath Street 0141 332 (iii/R
Top guality cooking, two AA rosettes, fixed price menus Theatre menu an ama/ing £7 95 Glasgow's best
78 St Vincent, 78 St Vincent Street, Glasgow G2 SUB 0141 248 7878 'Most inVItingly priced restaurant to have opened in Glasgow ' (‘onrad Wilson, The Hera/cl
Stravaigin 28 Gibson Street
334 2665.
Fresh Scottish ingredients, authentic and original recipes, award-Winning cooking, lively and informal atmosphere
The 13th Note
King Street 553 1638 Bar/c'afc’t/venue With a totally vegan menu of wholesome food Within a relaxed atmosphere.
The Ubiquitous Chip
12 Ashton . Lane 3345007 ‘ One of Glasgow's
finest restaurants servrng
modern Scottish fayre
For details of how to include your restaura nt/bistro/café/ bar in this directory, call Abi in our advertising department on 0131 558 1191
Ufa
'n'u ’
l2 ASHTON LANE
letgf .0
25 years of traditional Scottish cooking
10“.‘
Tel Ol4l-334 5007
H Jul (mug 1998 "CF LIST111